Zur wesensgemäßen Haltung von Schweinen auf Demeter-Betrieben. Ergebnisse einer Praxiserhebung zum Wesen und zur Bedeutung der Schweine

Die Demeter-Schweinehaltung in Deutschland zeigt sich mit relativ wenigen Betrieben und einer geringen Anzahl an Schweinen recht kleinstrukturiert und nimmt eine untergeordnete Stellung ein. Die untersuchten Betriebe erfüllten in der Regel gute, weitreichende und zum Teil über den Bio-Standard hinausgehende Bedingungen. Der Begriff „wesensgemäß“ wurde hier nicht einheitlich definiert, auch nicht in Abgrenzung zum Begriff „artgemäß“

Ansätze für eine muttergebundene Aufzucht von Milchschaflämmern in der Praxis

Ziel der Studie war die Erhebung von Erfahrungen aus der Praxis mit muttergebundener Aufzucht bei Milchschafen. Es wurden 11 Leitfadengestützte Experteninterviews geführt. Die Betriebe unterschieden sich in ihren Aufzuchtmethoden vor allem durch Beginn des Melkens (Spanne 1. - 56. Tag nach der Geburt), Anzahl Melkungen am Tag (1 oder 2), Dauer des Kontakts zwischen Mutterschafen und Lämmern (ganz- oder halbtags), sowie der Dauer der Säugeperiode (45 - 183 Tage), bei z.T. sehr unterschiedlichen Kombinationen. Die Betriebsleiter waren trotz der reduzierten Milchmenge zufrieden mit ihren Aufzuchtmethoden

Information exchange in laboratory markets: competition, transfer costs, and the emergence of reputation

Public reputation mechanisms are an effective means to limit opportunistic behavior in markets suffering from moral hazard problems. While previous research was mostly concerned with the influence of exogenous feedback mechanisms, this study considers the endogenous emergence of reputation through deliberate information sharing among actors and the role of barriers in hindering information exchange. Using a repeated investment game, we analyze the effects of competition and transfer costs on players’ willingness to share information with each other. While transfer costs are a direct cost of the information exchange, competition costs represent an indirect cost that arises when the transfer of valuable information to competitors comes at the loss of a competitive advantage. We show that barriers to information exchange not only affect the behavior of the senders of information, but also affect the ones about whom the information is shared. While the possibility of sharing information about others significantly improves trust and market efficiency, both competition and direct transfer costs diminish the positive effect by substantially reducing the level of information exchange. Players about whom the information is shared anticipate and react to the changes in the costs by behaving more or less cooperatively. For reputation building, an environment is needed that fosters the sharing of information. Reciprocity is key to understanding information exchange. Even when it is costly, information sharing is used as a way to sanction others. © 2020, The Author(s)

Association Between Hearing and Vision Impairment and Risk of Dementia: Results of a Case-Control Study Based on Secondary Data

Introduction: Hearing and vision loss are highly prevalent in elderly adults, and thus frequently occur in conjunction with cognitive impairments. Studies have shown that hearing impairment is associated with a higher risk of dementia. However, evidence concerning the association between vision loss and dementia, as well as the co-occurrence of vision and hearing loss and dementia, has been inconclusive. Objectives: To assess the association between: (i) either hearing or vision loss and the risk of dementia, as well as between; and (ii) the combination of both sensory impairments and the risk of dementia. Methods: This case-control study was based on a 5-year data set that included patients aged 65 years and older who had initially been diagnosed with dementia diseases by one of 1,203 general practitioners in Germany between January 2013 and December 2017. In total, 61,354 identified dementia cases were matched to non-dementia controls, resulting in a sample size of 122,708 individuals. Hearing loss and vision loss were identified using the ICD-10 diagnoses documented in the general practitioners’ files prior to the initial dementia diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the associations between visual and/or hearing impairment and the risk of dementia and controlled for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: Hearing impairment was documented in 11.2% of patients with a dementia diagnosis and 9.5% of patients without such a diagnosis. Some form of vision impairment was documented in 28.4% of patients diagnosed with dementia and 28.8% of controls. Visual impairment was not significantly associated with dementia (OR = 0.97, CI = 95% 0.97–1.02, p = 0.219). However, patients with hearing impairment were at a significantly higher risk of developing dementia (OR = 1.26, CI = 95% 1.15–1.38, p < 0.001), a finding that very likely led to the observed significant association of the combination of both visual and hearing impairments and the risk of dementia (OR = 1.14, CI = 95% 1.04–1.24, p = 0.005). Discussion: This analysis adds important evidence that contributes to the limited body of knowledge about the association between hearing and/or vision loss and dementia. It further demonstrates that, of the two, only hearing impairment affects patients’ cognition and thus contributes to dementia risk

Implantable defibrillator event rates in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia on Holter and a left ventricular ejection fraction below 30%

AbstractObjectivesThis study investigated the incidence of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interventions for ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and nonsustained VT in the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction below 30%, versus in patients with syncope and patients with a history of VT or VF.BackgroundTo date, only limited information is available about the prophylactic use of ICDs in patients with IDC.MethodsFrom January 1993 to July 2000, 101 patients with IDC underwent implantation of ICDs with electrogram storage capability at our institution. Patients were placed into one of three groups according to their clinical presentation: asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic nonsustained VT in the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% (49 patients, prophylactic group), unexplained syncope or near syncope (26 patients, syncope group) and a history of sustained VT or VF (26 patients, VT/VF group).ResultsDuring 36 ± 22 months follow-up, 18 of 49 patients (37%) in the prophylactic group received appropriate shocks for VT or VF, compared with 8 of 26 patients (31%) in the syncope group and with 9 of 26 patients (35%) of the VT/VF group. Multivariate Cox analysis of baseline clinical variables identified left ventricular ejection fraction, atrial fibrillation and a history of sustained VT or VF as predictors for appropriate ICD interventions during follow-up.ConclusionPatients with IDC and prophylactic ICD implantation for nonsustained VT in the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% had an incidence of appropriate ICD interventions similar to that of patients with a history of syncope or sustained VT or VF. These findings indicate that ICDs may have a role in not only secondary but also primary prevention of sudden death in IDC

Sedimentologische Auswirkungen der Grundfischerei in der Kieler Bucht (Westliche Ostsee)

Sedimentological effects of trawl fishery are little investigated compared to the biological effects. The objectives for the present investigation concern the mechanical disturbance of the sediments and the reworking induced by the ploughing effect of the trawl-net otter boards. For investigation of the distribution of trawl-net tracks on the sediment surface and their morphological analysis highresolving side-scan Sonar and video instruments (ROV) were used, occasionally supported by scuba divers. Manifold mechanical effects on the sediments observed up to 23 cm sediment depth were studied on X-ray graphs from video-controlled box core sampling. The reworking of sediments is due to the suspension cloud during trawling as well as to erosion which acts preferredly at small-scale topography formed by the ploughing effect of the otter boards. Oblique action of the otter boards and their frequently jumping rnotion reduce the surface disturbed by trawling. Sedimentologische Auswirkungen der Grundfischerei sind bisher im Vergleich zu biologischen Effekten wenig untersucht. Die Fragestellung der vorliegenden Arbeit setzt hauptsächlich an den mechanischen Störungen und den Konsequenzen für die Sedimenturnlagerung durch den Einfluß der Grundfischerei, vor allem durch die Pflugwirkung der Scherbretter, im Gebiet der Kieler Bucht an. Die Verbreitung der Grundfischereispuren am Meeresboden wurde mit Hilfe eines hochauflösenden Seitensichtsonars untersucht, für die morphologische Analyse wurden zusätzlich Video- und Tauchbeobachtungen eingesetzt. Die mechanischen Störeffekte wurden an Röntgen-Radiographien untersucht. Die an Radiographien von video-gesteuerten Kastengreiferproben beobachtete Tiefenwirkung der mechanischen Störungen des Sedimentgefüges - Faltungs- und Wickelgefüge, Zerscherungen sowie Laminierung durch Pflugsohleneffekte werden beschrieben - beträgt bis zu 23 cm. Umlagerung erfolgt über die beim Grundfischen erzeugte Suspensionswolke sowie über Erosion, die an den durch die Scherbretter entstandenen Unebenheiten bevorzugt ansetzt. Die Verbreitung der Suspensionswolke erfolgt deshalb mehr lokal, während das erodierte Material durch episodische Bodenströmungen weiter verfrachtet wird. Eine beträchtliche Reduktion der Flächenwirkung der Scherbretter auf Schlickböden erfolgt dadurch, daß diese zum weitaus überwiegenden Teil nur schräg "über Eck" den Grund berühren oder, durch elastische Reaktion des Geschirrs auf den Sedimentwiderstand bedingt, sich hüpfend fortbewegen

Dropout in adult education as a phenomenon of fit. An integrative model proposal for the genesis of dropout in adult education based on dropout experiences

In adult training practice, dropout marks the transition from participation to non-participation. There are only a few theoretical models, especially from the second half of the 20th century, that address this phenomenon. With special consideration to the congruence model of Boshier (1973) and the integration model of Tinto (1975, 1993) the study focuses first on the theoretical discussion of empirically grounded models for the explanation of dropout in the field of adult education. Against the background of analyses of 40 problem-centered interviews with dropouts from adult education, the two models are examined as to their explanatory contributions. Based on these empirical and theoretical explorations, a newly developed typology of as well as a model for dropout are proposed which topicalize dropout in adult education as a phenomenon of fit. (DIPF/Orig.

Toll-like receptor 4 in experimental kidney transplantation: early mediator of endogenous danger signals

The role of toll-like receptors (TLRs) has been described in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, but data on the expression and function of TLR4 during renal allograft damage are still scarce. We analyzed the expression of TLR4 in an experimental rat model 6 and 28 days after allogeneic kidney transplantation in comparison to control rats and rats after syngeneic transplantation. On day 6, a significant induction in TLR4 expression - restricted to the glomerular compartment - was found in acute rejecting allografts only. TLR4 expression strongly correlated with renal function, and TLR4 induction was accompanied by a significant increase in CC chemokine expression within the graft as well as in urinary CC chemokine excretion. TLR4 induction may be caused by an influx of macrophages as well as TLR4-expressing intrinsic renal cells. Fibrinogen deposition in renal allografts correlated with renal TLR4 expression and may act as a potent stimulator of chemokine release via TLR4 activation. This study provides, for the first time, data about the precise intrarenal localization and TLR4 induction after experimental kidney transplantation. It supports the hypothesis that local TLR4 activation by endogenous ligands may be one pathological link from unspecific primary allograft damage to subsequent chemokine release, infiltration and activation of immune cells leading to deterioration of renal function and induction of renal fibrosis. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Berichtsmodul 'Landwirtschaft und Umwelt' in den Umweltökonomischen Gesamtrechnungen: Konzept und beispielhafte Darstellung erster Ergebnisse

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